3.2 million new players joined the online gambling craze in the UK in the past year, which equates to a 40 per cent rise in the number of people playing online bingo, lottery, poker and casino games, according to a new report by Nielson research. This is a huge amount when you consider that Facebook, one of the most popular sites on the web, reached only 2.2 million.

Sampling has the power to change consumers' perceptions and boost sales, and if it's well executed then it can deliver enormous brand value. This tried and tested marketing technique can be effective fora number of reasons, whether it's to persuade people to buy a new brand or reevaluate one they haven't tried for a long time.